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The Irish Champion Stakes is one of the most prestigious races on the Irish racing calendar and generally attracts several of the classiest colts and fillies around, including Derby and other Classic winners. It is a Group One race open to thoroughbreds aged three and older and is raced at Leopardstown race course over 1 mile and 2 furlongs.
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In historical terms it is quite a new race having first been run in 1976 under the name of the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes. It became known as the Phoenix Champions Stakes, when the race was transferred to Phoenix Park but has been promoted under its current name since 1991, when it returned to Leopardstown
The Irish Champions Stakes became part of the Breeders Cup Challenge Series in 2009, meaning that the winner will have an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders Cup Turf in the USA in November.
As one would expect the race has been dominated by the leading Irish trainers, with Aidan O’Brien leading the way of the current trainers with five wins. One of his winners was the brilliant, Dylan Thomas who is the only horse to win the race twice. He also of course went on to win Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2007. Winner last year was the fantastic Sea The Stars who also went on to win the ‘Arc’. He had far too much zip for current 2010 ‘Arc’ favourite, Fame And Glory and won the 2009 renewal comfortably.
The Group 1 Matron Stakes is run on the same meeting as the Irish Champion Stakes, a one mile contest for fillies and mares.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2011 | So You Think | S Heffernan | A O'Brien |
| 2010 | Cape Blanco | S Heffernan | A O'Brien |
| 2009 | Sea The Stars | M Kinane | J Oxx |
| 2008 | New Approach | K Manning | J Bolger |
| 2007 | Dylan Thomas | K Fallon | A O'Brien |
| 2006 | Dylan Thomas | K Falloni | A O'Brien |
| 2005 | Oratorio | K Fallon | A O'Brien |
| 2004 | Azamour | M Kinane | J Oxx |
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This most prestigious of races takes place a month or so after the Irish Champion Stakes at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris. As always it will attract one of the finest fields of runners during the entire season. The race is essentially a decider for which middle distance horse is the best in Europe and possibly even the world and has been won by some truly great horses down the years.
Of all the great winners few have been better than the last two, Zarkava in 2008 and Sea The Stars in 2009. The former became the first filly in fifteen years to win the ‘Arc’ and remained unbeaten in seven races, while Sea The Stars won six Group Ones in his three year old season, including the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.
Check out the latest news for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
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